Improvement in machines for sewing grain in drills



F MOEHLMANN.

Grain-DrilL No, 17.581 Patent-ed June 16. 1857.

Unirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDERICK MOEHLMANN, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SEWING GRAIN IN DRILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I7,58l, dated J une 16,1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDERICK MOEHL- MANN, of Bellsville, in the countyof St. Clair and State of lllinois, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Sewing Grain in Drills; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure 1. is a vertical transversesection of the hopper and distributing-plates. Figs.'2 and 3 are topviews of the distributing-plates separated. Fig. 4 is a top view,showing the plates arranged one on top of the other, as in Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a perspective view.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicatecorresponding parts.

My invention relates to an improvement in that description ofseed-distributer which employs two circular plates,which are slotted andare arranged one on top of the other, and one to be stationary while theother revolves.

The nature of my said invention consists in having the curved slot ofthe upper stationary plate terminate in the form of a scroll or letterC, and the slot of the lower plat earranged in such relation to the samethat, as the lower plate turns, the seed, in order to escape as they areforced along on a curve by spurs of the turning plate, shall becompelled to take a direction toward the axis of the plate, and thusbe-saved from being cracked or broken by being compressed between theterminations of the upper and lower slots, as in the distributers ofthis character above adverted to.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

Arepresents the hopper of a seed-drill.

B is a longitudinal hinged turning partition or shutter at the center ofthe hopper.

G is an oblong passage in the hopper for the seed to escape through.

D D are the circular plates. They are arranged one on top of the other,underneath the hopper, and fastened in place and connected looselytogether by means of a vertical screw-pin, a, one being stationary andthe other capable of turning on the pin.

E F are the curved passages in the plates. The passage E of the lowerturning-plate is of equal width from end to end, and is near the axis orpin a, while the passage F of the upper stationary plate is made widerin scroll in Fig. 1.

G is a spur projecting up from the lower plate through the slot of theupper plate and through the passage in the bottom of the hopper. Thisspur serves for forcing the seed right and left from the chamber 0 tothe scroll or C-shaped discharge of the upper plate, as illustrated inFig. 4. As the seed is forced forward by this spur it is compelled totake a direction toward the axis of the lower plate in order to escape,and itis therebysaved from being cracked or broken, as there is nochance of its being compressed or crowded between the meetingterminationof the upperandlower slots, as in other distributer. Besides breaking orcracking being prevented, a possibility of choking, and consequentirregular sowing, is avoided.

In the drawings the plates are shown with other slots, H, I on theiropposite side. The object of this is that the machine, when the hopperis provided with the hinged shutter, may be adapted for sewing eitherwheat or oats. This is accomplished by making the chamber a, formedby:the plates, designed for oats to fall into from the hopper, a littleshallower than the chamberc, designed for the wheat to fall into fromthe hopper.

A series of seed-distributers constructed according to the foregoingdescription may be arranged on one hopper, and so connected together bya bar, J, and combined by said bar with a reciprocating rod, K,which isactuated by a serpentine cam, as that a vibrating movement shall beimparted to them allatthesame time.

Suitable slides, 0, maybe provided forshutting off the supply of seed,and the quantity of seed sown to the acre may be regulated by having theloose end of rod K capable of being moved around the gage-bar L by meansof the slot 0 and set-screwf, as shown in Fig. 5.

To adapt the machine for sowing oats after it has been used for sowingwheat, all that has to be done is to reverse the position of the hingedpartition or shutter B, and vice versa when it is desired to again sowwheat.

I do not claim a double-chambered hopper, nor a turning or reversiblepartition for separating the chambers of the same. Neither do I claimbroadly the use of a distrihuter composed of two circular slottedplates, oneplaced above the other, and one stationary and the othercapable of turning irrespective of the position of the slots in saidplates relatively to one another and the form of the slot in the upperplate; but a What I do claim as myinvention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

Having the curved slot of the upper stationary plate terminate in theform of a scroll or letter C, and the slot of the lower plate 'arrangedin such relation to the same that, as the lower plate turns, the seed,in order to escape as they are forced along on a curve by spurs of theturning plate, shall be compelled to take a direction toward the axis ofthe plate, and thus be saved from being cracked or broken by beingcompressed between the terminations of the upper and lower slots,substantially as set forth.

FRIEDE RIOK MOEHLMANN.

Witnesses:

TnEoD. ENGELMANN, H. SoHLETH.

